USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 7
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Mrs. Perry H. Stebbins was born and reared in Easton township, and received her education in the local public schools and the lonia high school. after which she taught school for about five years.
After his marriage. Perry H. Stebbins bought fifty acres in section 18, Easton township, and farmed there three years, then sold out and returned to the old Stebbins homestead, where he has since resided, keeping the place under good improvements and a high state of cultivation. He pur- chased the place about five years ago. He has one hundred and forty acres, two good dwellings, large barns and other outbuildings. Politically, he is a Republican. He served as justice of the peace for a short time, and from 1901 to 1905 was township clerk, and in the spring of 1915 was again elected to this office. He has two sons, Elvon and Maurice. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Gleaners and the Modern Woodmen.
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WILLARD SANFORD YEOMANS.
One of the well-known and highly-respected citizens of Orleans town- ship. lonia county, of a past generation, who lived to good purpose was the late Willard Sanford Yeomans, a man whose name should be preserved in the history of his locality along with others who have led useful and honor- able lives here.
Willard Sanford Yeomans was born on December 31, 1858, west of lonia. in Easton township. He was a son of Sanford A. and Marietta ( Stebbins ) Yeomans, and a brother of Edwin S. Yeomans, whose record. appearing on another page of this volume, contains the family genealogy.
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WILLARD S. YEOMANS.
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IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Willard S. Yeomans grew to manhood on the farm where Edwin S. Yeomans now resides, and he received his education in the public schools of lonia and remained on the homestead until his marriage, on January 28, 1880. to Clara Gott. She was born in Easton township. this county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Steven W. and Helen ( Herrick ) Gott. The father was born on June 13, 1829, at Wooster, New York. He was a son of James and Electa ( Clark) Gott. These parents were married in Lorain county, Ohio, February 22, 1850. Helen Herrick was born in Medina county, Ohio, September 28, 1833, and was a daughter of Harlow and Laura Ann ( Briggs) Herrick. Harlow Herrick was born July 21. 1801, at Watertown, New York, and was a son of Amasa and Polly ( Robinson ) Herrick. Amasa Herrick was a son of Ezekiel Herrick, who was born at Tyringham. Berkshire county, Massachu- setts, in 1726, and he became a member of the General Assembly of that state, and was a major in the American army during the Revolutionary War. He was a descendant of Ezekiel, Sr., a son of Ephraim, son of Henry, who was born at Beau Manor, Leicester, England, in 1604. He was the first immigrant of the family to America, locating in Beverly, Massa- chusetts, where his son. Ephraim, was born. The family history may be traced back through the nobility to Eryryk, of Great Stretton and of Hough- ton county. Leicester. England ( 1216-1272), and he was a lineal descend- ant of Eric the Forester. The name was subsequently changed to Eryick, then to Heyrick, and finally to Herrick. Laura Ann Briggs, mentioned above, was born at Taunton. Bristol county, Massachusetts, June 27, 1804, and was a daughter of Ezra and Sally ( Jones) Briggs. She moved to Medina county, Ohio, about 1822. ller father was a sailor and for some time was under the famous John Paul Jones. She was married to Harlow Herrick, June 21, 1828, and they moved to Michigan about 1865, locating in Easton township. Ionia county, Michigan, where her death occurred on February 10, 1898. Amosa Herrick, great-grandfather of Mrs. Yeomans, was also the great-grandfather of Myron T. Herrick, former American ambassador to France at the outbreak of the European war. Harlow Her- rick died in Ronald township. lonia county. May 31. 1801. S. W. Gott and wife moved to Michigan in May. 1855, locating in Easton township, Ionia county, where Mr. Gott purchased a farm and here spent the rest of his life. dying on December 7. 1901. His widow is still living on the old home place, being now past eighty-two years of age. She lives with her son, George Gott. Mrs. Yeomans grew up in Easton township, and she attended high school in Ionia.
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After his marriage, Willard S. Yeomans spent a year on the old home place, being now past eighty-two years of age. She lives with her son. of his life, from 1881. He improved the place, erecting most of the build- ings that are now to be seen on the farm, including a fine residence and sub- stantial barns. The home is modern, equipped with steam heat. acetylene lights. etc. His home farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and he owned forty acres a short distance away. He was one of the prosperous farmers of his township. His family consisted of four children, namely : Maurice W., Margery, Marietta, who died when an infant, and Florence. The living children are all with their mother on the homestead.
The death of Willard S. Yeomans occurred on November 4. 1908.
FRANK W. HALL.
Frank W. Hall, one of lonia county's best-known farmers, pro- prietor of a fine farm of ninety-nine acres in Easton township, just north of the city of lonia, is a native son of this county, having been born on a pioneer farm in Orleans township. December 20, 1857. son of Joshua S. and Sarah Amanda ( Haight ) Hall, who for years were among the best known and most influential residents of that part of the county, further details of whose history in this county is set out in a memorial sketch relating to Joshua S. Hall, presented elsewhere in this volume, to which the attention of the reader is invited in this connection.
Frank W. Hall was about seventeen years old when the family moved from Orleans township, a mile or so south, into Easton township and on the home farm in the latter township he lived until his marriage at the age of twenty-five years, after which he moved across into lonia township, where he bought forty acres of land and began farming for himself. He re- mained there for about eight years, at the end of which time he sold his place and moved to his present farm of ninety-nine acres on the west side of the state road about one mile north of Main street in lonia, where he has ever since made his home. His farm is profitably cultivated. He has a fine, large brick house and he and his family are very comfortably situated. In addition to general farming Mr. Hall has given considerable attention to stock raising.
On his twenty-fifth birthday. December 20, 1882, Frank W. Hall was united in marriage to Emma J. Myers, who was born at Grand Rapids, this
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state, daughter of William James and Anna E. (Smith ) Myers, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Michigan, born at Courtland Center, near Grand Rapids. William J. Myers came to Michigan when a young man and engaged in custom shoemaking at Grand Rapids, where he married Anna E. Smith, later returning to his old home in Connecticut. In 1861 he enlisted for service during the Civil War in a Connecticut regiment and died in service when his daughter Emma was a small child. His widow re- turned to Grand Rapids, where she married Joseph Howard, who presently moved to this county, settling on a farm near Woods Corner, in Orleans town- ship, where he established a permanent home, and there Emma Myers grew to womanhood, remaining there until her marriage to Mr. Hall. Her mother died on October 7, 1903.
To Frank W. and Emma J. (Myers ) Hall six children have been born, as follow : Ruth A., who lives in Grand Rapids; Ada J., who married Harry Shields, of Grand Rapids and has one son, Wendell ; Ella M. and Della M., twins, the former of whom lives in Grand Rapids and the latter at home ; Gertrude, of Grand Rapids, and Clarence J., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Church of the Disciples at lonia and are warmly in- terested in all neighborhood good works.
CHESTER ADGATE.
Chester Adgate. a well-known stockman and retired farmer, of Saranac, this county, is a native son of Ionia county, having been born on the old Adgate homestead in Berlin township, three-fourths of a mile south of the school house, February 3. 1857, son of John and Catherine ( Taft ) Adgate, well-known residents of that section.
John Adgate was born near Batavia, New York, and when a boy came with his parents to Michigan, the family settling in Oakland county, where they lived for a few years before coming to lonia county. Grandfather Adgate bought an eighty-acre tract in fonia township, now a part of the old Kelsey farm, and there he died a few years later, after which his widow moved to Tuttles Corners and it was there that John Adgate grew to man- hood. After his marriage he bought a farm in section 33. Berlin township, this county, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on August 26, 1888. To John and Catherine
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(Taft) Adgate four children were born, the eldest of whom, a son, died in infancy and the youngest of whom is the subject of this sketch, the others being Lowina, wife of Riley Harwood, of lonia, and Adaline, who died at the age of eighteen years. The mother of these children died in 1859 and John Adgate later married Rosetta Briggs, to which union four children were born, William, who lives in Saranac; Philo, of Berlin township: Milo, who occupies the old home farm in that same township, and Sarah, who died at the age of twelve.
Chester Adgate was reared on the old home farm, receiving his edu- cation in the neighboring district school, and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, after which he began working on neighboring farms on his own account and was thus engaged for about two years, at the end of which time his father bought a forty-acre farm in Berlin township west of his own farm and gave it to the subject, who began to develop the same. A year later, in the spring of 1876, he married and established a home on his little farm where he lived for a few years and then traded that "forty" for a similar tract in section 21 of the same township, upon which, however, he did not make his home, presently trading that for an eighty-acre tract in the same township, on which he lived until he sold that farm and moved to lonia, where for three years he was engaged in the live stock business and also conducted a meat market. He then bought the Sessions farm in Berlin township and lived there until he sold that farm to the county for a county farm in 1906, after which he moved to Saranac where he ever since has been quite successfully engaged in the "buying and selling of live stock. Mr. Adgate still owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, the old Tibbets farm, in Berlin township, and is also the owner of a business building in Saranac. He is a Democrat, and during his residence in Berlin township was elected supervisor of that township for five successive terms, resigning that office when he moved to Saranac.
On April 1, 1876, Chester Adgate was united in marriage to Norah Har- wood, and to this union seven children have been born, namely: Mary, wife of Gilbert Curtiss, living on the old Webb Young place in Berlin town- ship; Vinnie, wife of Charles Gates, superintendent of the county farm in Berlin township; Lydia, wife of Perry Walters, a farmer in section 20 of that same township; Phoene, wife of Ray Smith, a farmer living at the Hartley school house in section 9 of Berlin township: Earl, a farmer living near Berlin Center: Glenn, who is in the clothing business at Saranac, and John, who is just completing the course in the Saranac high school.
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ALBERT E. GESLER, M. D.
Dr. Albert E. Gesler, well-known and successful physician of Saranac, this county, is a native son of Michigan, having been born in the village of Montville, in St. Joseph county, this state, July 17, 1850, son of the Rev. Lewis C. and Elizabeth (Snow) Gesler, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Massachusetts, who later became prominent residents of this state.
The Rev. Lewis C. Gesler was of Swiss parentage, his parents having come from Switzerland to this country, settling in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was born on May 1, 1820. The family later moved to Ohio, where Lewis C. Gesler grew to manhood and where he received his education. As a young man he came to Michigan, locating on a farm in St. Joseph county. He had received an excellent religious training from his pious parents and after coming to this state seriously entered upon the study of theology with a view to entering the gospel ministry and was presently ordained as a minister of the United Brethern church, in which high calling he continued until failing health compelled his retirement from the pulpit.
On September 13, 1841, not long after he came to Michigan, Lewis C. Gester was united in marriage at Wendon, in St. Joseph county, to Elizabeth Snow, who was born at Boston, Massachusetts, October 21, 1825, and who had come to this state with her parents when a girl, and to this union ten children were born, of whom nine grew to maturity, as follow: Maria, widow of Moses Seiber, of Hastings, this state; Edward, who also lives at Hastings ; Orin, of Cloverdale, this state ; Sarah, widow of Howard Mosier. of Cloverdale: Albert E., the subject of this sketch; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of James Snyder : Mattie, wife of Porter Marion, of Augusta, this state: Carrie, wife of David Morthland, of Cedar Creek, this state, and Arthur, who is engaged in the furniture business in Oregon. When his fail- ing health compelled his retirement from the ministry the Rev. Lewis C. Gesler moved to Hastings, this state, in 1880, and there he died in 1900, his widow following him in death about six years later.
Albert E. Gesler received his elementary education in the schools of Barry county and at the age of seventeen entered Loni College, at Lon. this state. After a two-years course there he began teaching school and for two years was thus engaged in Barry county. He then went to Kansas where he taught for a year. after which he entered the Kansas State Nor- mal School at Leavenworth, with a view to further preparing himself for teaching, but before completing the course there his father's failing health
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necessitated his return home. In the meanwhile he had been giving his serious thought to the study of medicine, and at the age of twenty-four entered the office of Dr. E. F. Brown, at Hastings, and after preparatory study there matriculated at the homeopathic medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, where he pursued his studies for a year, at the end of which time, in order to gain the advantage of better clinical experience, he transferred his attendance to the Pulte Medical College at Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in 1877.
Upon receiving his degree, Doctor Gesler came to Ionia county and on June 22, 1877, opened an office for the practice of his profession at Saranac and there he has been thus engaged ever since and has been very successful. He has kept abreast in the advancement made in recent years in his noble profession, and has done post-graduate work at the Haberman Medical Col- lege and the Polyclinic Medical College at Chicago, the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College at Chicago, and the medical department of the University of Michigan. Doctor Gesler is a member of the Michigan State Homeopathic Society and of the West Michigan Homeopathic Society of which latter he was president in 1915. He is an independent Republican in his political views, and has ever given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs. For two consecutive terms he was president of the Saranac village corporation, and it was largely through his unceasing and well directed efforts while occu- pying that position that the present waterworks system and the boulevard lighting system were installed.
On September 10, 1879, Dr. Albert E. Gesler was united in marriage to Vesta C. A. Harris, who was born in Macomb county, this state, November 24, 1854, daughter of Fayette and Marjorie ( Forbes) Harris, who moved with their family to this county in 1865. settling on a farm a short distance east of Saranac, where they lived for four years, at the end of which time they moved to St. Johns, where Vesta Harris taught school until her marriage to Doctor Gesler. The year after her marriage Mrs. Gesler entered the Herring Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, from which she was graduat- ed in 1881, after which she became engaged with her husband in practice at Saranac, with flattering promise of a brilliant career in medicine, until failing health compelled her retirement and her death occurred on June 19. 1901. She was a member of the Congregational church and for two years before her death had been acting as superintendent of the Sunday school of that congregation. To Albert E. and Vesta A. C. (Harris) Gesler two chil- dren were. born, James Farrand, a graduate of the Saranac high school, who' after a year at Ferris Institute at Big Rapids entered MeLaughlin's Business
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College at Grand Rapids, from which he was graduated, and is now located at Chicago, and Carl Grant, who is now located at Lansing.
On August 25. 1902. Dr. Albert E. Gesler married Mrs. Helen Bur- bank, of Salt Lake, Utah, who was born at Kenosha, Wisconsin. When she was a young girl her parents moved to Denver, Colorado, where she re- ceived an excellent education, her schooling there being followed by a com- prehensive tour through Europe, during which time she spent considerable time at Hanover, finishing her studies in music and German, after which for some time she was engaged as a teacher in the high school at Colorado Springs, later as a teacher in the Denver high school and then in the schools of Salt Lake, where she made her home for four years. Doctor and Mrs. Gesler are members of the Congregational church, the Doctor being chair- man of the board of trustees of the same. Hle is a Mason, a member of Boston Lodge No. 146 of that order, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
ERNEST S. WOOLDRIDGE.
It is a privilege which should be fully appreciated if we are permitted to spend our lives beneath "the roof that heard our earliest cry." Ernest S. Wooldridge, of Orleans township, fonia county, has been so favored by fortune, and still lives on the farm on which he was born on March 22, 1862. He is a son of Samuel Wooldridge and wife, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume.
Ernest Wooldridge grew up on the home farm, where he began work- ing during the summer months when but a boy, and in the winter time he attended the district schools. After the death of his father, he and his brother, Edward, purchased the interests of the other heirs in the home place, which they farmed together, and were also partners in other land now owned by Ernest S. They operated both these places in partnership and they still work together a great deal, but they divided their holdings sev- eral years ago. Ernest now owns the home property in section 31, Orleans township, consisting of one hundred eighteen and one-half acres. He has kept the land under a fine state of cultivation and improvement. In 1893 he erected a commodious and attractive brick house, also has two large barns and other convenient outbuildings. He is carrying on general farm- ing and stock raising successfully, everything about his place denoting thrift and good management.
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Ernest S. Wooldridge was married in 1900 to Emma Doty, a sister of Mrs. Edward M. Wooldridge, mentioned in another part of this work. The Doty family is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Emma Doty grew up on the home farm in Berlin township, this county, and was educated in the public schools. She lived at home until her marriage. Four children have been born to Ernest S. Wooldridge and wife, three daughters and a son, namely : Anna Ethel, born in November, 1903: Lucile, who died in infancy : Harold Ernest, born on January I, 1906; Louise, born in June, 1907, and Dorothy, born in July, 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge belong to the East Otisco Farmers Club and also to the Orleans Farmers Club. They are students of modern methods of husbandry, and many of these methods are in operation on their farm. They have an heirloom in the shape of a book of the Church of England, printed in the year 1787. They are hospitable and neighborly people.
CHARLES M. RALSTON. -
Charles M. Ralston, a well-known and progressive farmer of Sebewa township, this county, and one of the directors of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Ionia county, is a native of Ohio, but has lived in this county since he was a babe in arms and may almost lay claim, there- fore. to life-long residence in his county. He was born on a farm in Seneca county, Ohio, February 25, 1867. son of Andrew M. and Catherine ( Spitler ) Ralston, who later became well-known residents of this county.
Andrew M. Ralston was born in Virginia and moved to Ohio when a boy with his parents. He grew up in Seneca county and later moved to Michigan, where he married Ann M. Crapo, niece of former Governor Crapo, and settled in Sebewa township. this county, after marriage. To that union two children were born, of whom one is now living. Gideon D. Ralston, of Six Lakes. Upon the death of his first wife, Andrew M. Rals- ton returned to his old home in Seneca county, Ohio, and there he married Catherine Spitler. He and his wife remained in Seneca county for about four years after their marriage and then came to Michigan, Mr. Ralston resmining his farming operations in Sebawa township, this county. ile became one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood and served the public for some time in the capacity of supervisor and treasurer of the township. Andrew M. Ralston died on January 21, 1897, and his widow survived for a little more than fifteen years, her death occurring on Febru-
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES M. RALSTON.
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ary 28, 1912. They were the parents of three children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being Joseph G., a well-known farmer of Sebawa township, and Walter E., of Cement City, this state.
Charles M. Ralston was but one year old when his parents established their home in this county and he grew up on the home farm in Sebawa township, receiving his education in the schools in that neighborhood. He was carefully trained as a farmer and has followed that vocation all his life. now farming one hundred and seventy-five acres. On June 20, 1894. Charles M. Ralston was united in marriage to Harriet Olry, who was born on a farm adjoining that of the Ralston place. March 9. 1873. daughter of John C. and Laura Olry, and who received her education in the schools of Portland, graduating from the high school in that place. After his mar- riage, Mr. Ralston established his home on the farm which he now lives and ever since has made his home there. His wife died on June 25. 1914.
Mr. Ralston is a Republican and has for years taken an active part in local political affairs, having served as a delegate to county and state con- ventions of his party. Ile for years has taken a prominent part in the Grange and is past master of the grange at Sebewa and of the county grange. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen and is one of the direc- tors of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, incorporated, the officers of which concern are as follow: President. Frederick Pitt: vice-president, George Jordan: secretary. J. I .. Fowler, and directors, William H. Madison. Peter Kohn. Albert Delzell. Charles M. Ralston and Nathan Gould.
Mrs. Ralston was a member of the Grange, and for ten years was lecturer of the county grange. She was highly esteemed and her death was deplored by all who knew her. Her remains were interred in Lake Side cemetery, Lake Odessa.
NATHAN' WINSLOW.
One of the native sons of lonia county who has lived to see and take part in the wondrous changes that have "come over the face of the land" here during the past half century or more, is Nathan Winslow, successful farmer of Easton township. He was born at lonia, February 19. 1846, and is a son of William and Mary Ann ( Kanouse ) Winslow. The father was a young man when he came with his parents, Ezra Winslow and wife, to lonia county in early pioneer days, very soon after the first settlement. The family located on wild land in Easton township. Here William was married to Mary Ann Kanouse, who was young when she came to lonia county
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. with her parents, Abraham and Isabel ( Laughery ) Kanouse, from Tyrone Mills, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1836. They made the long journey in wagons drawn by oxen. Abraham Kanouse was a millwright. When he reached Ionia he observed that the Dexter mill was standing idle, because the water-wheel had not been properly constructed. He soon took the con- tract to make the mill run, and after rebuilding the wheel he set the mill going, and was paid one hundred dollars for his work. Hle settled in Easton township on eighty acres which he had previously traded for. Ile died about a year after coming here, and the one hundred dollars which he had received from Mr. Dexter was all he had to leave his widow, two sons and a daughter, who continued to live on the land for some time, where by hard work the family supported themselves. The Indians were very friendly and often gave them deer meat. The mother reared her children in comparative com- fort and she spent the rest of her life in Easton township.
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